Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale. 20 years, still a favorite

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is back in action for its 20th year. The beer is officially the longest running seasonal in the brewery’s Asheville, North Carolina home.

Stylistically, the brewery calls Cold Mountain a winter warmer. Honestly, this beer is really unique and in our minds really doesn’t fit that style. Imagine a caramel colored, malt forward ale that isn’t roasty, bitter, or rely on a boozy finish for flavor. Highland really doesn’t disclose the spices in Cold Mountain, but we are placing our bets on hazelnut and vanilla. Perhaps even a light touch of cranberry. Not knowing really makes every pint of this more fun.

We are all in agreement here at Beer Street Journal that Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is one of our absolute favorite seasonals every year. Two full decades later, can it be called iconic? We hope so.

To celebrate the double decade mark in 2016, the brewery released an Imperial Cold Mountain edition at the brewery only. A beer we hope to get our hands one one day.

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale is available in liter and 22 ounce bottles, as well as draft, seasonally.

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